July 23, 2010
Building Envelope Solutions conference
VIDEO: Canada should embrace rainscreen cladding systems
Canada has been too slow to embrace rainscreen cladding systems, despite the advantages they offer in terms of better performance, low-cost maintenance and longer-lasting structures, says a distributor of architectural building products.
“These things are proven, they’re just not being used, and that’s kind of a shame on us,” Blair Davies, vice-president and general manager of Mississauga, Ont.-based Engineered Assemblies Inc., told the Building Envelope Solutions forum conference in Toronto recently.
A rainscreen facade is an open-joint cladding system that uses a double-wall: an outer layer that keeps out rain and an inner layer that provides insulation and prevents energy loss.
The system allows natural ventilation into the cavity between the panel and the insulation, helping to provide drainage for rain and condensation.
Davies noted that these wall systems have the same performance as the three-foot thick walls of buildings built in the 1800s.
“Unless you’re going to build the Notre Dame Cathedral, why not design a wall system that works – that’s thin and light and economical?” he said.
Another advantage of rainscreen systems versus conventional walls is that they provide the option of simply changing out the panels, Davies noted.
“These systems last forever, and 20 years from now when you want to change the colour of the building, take the panels off, put some new ones on.”
“Think about all the ugly architecture that was beautiful back in its day and we can’t do anything about it now,” he added.
“(With) this kind of architecture, you could actually change it a few years from now if you wanted to.”
VIDEO: Ontario General Contractors Association shows support for Gold Seal
The entire board of directors of the Ontario General Contractors Association have become Gold Seal Champions, part of an effort to help promote the national construction certification program.
VIDEO: Green building critical in triple bottom line accounting
Building design and construction standards will undergo significant changes as “triple bottom line” accounting becomes more commonplace in the industry, says a Saskatchewan-based economist.
VIDEO: Boom truck tips over at Vancouver condo project
A boom truck tipped over while delivering lumber to a low-rise condominium construction project in Vancouver’s trendy Kitsilano neighbourhood, near Vine Street and First Avenue.
Ontario General Contractors Association launching project management course
The Ontario General Contractors Association in September will launch a new project management course that will cover all aspects of the role from the conception stage of a project through to occupancy and commissioning.
BIM can blur lines of professional responsibility
Building Information Modeling (BIM) may help architects and contractors construct buildings more efficiently, but it can also blur the lines of professional responsibility if something goes wrong, a construction lawyer warns.
Communication was key, says outgoing Construction Specifications Canada president
Improved communication was a major accomplishment for Construction Specifications Canada in the past year, says the association’s outgoing president Brian Colgan.
The risks of LEED certification for contractors
Contractors need to be aware of the risks associated with the LEED rating system, says a construction lawyer at one of the country’s leading legal firms.
New soil regulation ‘problematic’ for industry
Industry officials are concerned a new Ontario regulation that focuses on the management of surplus construction site soils could end up creating headaches and increasing costs.
Green roofs need sensible design
In the rush to embrace green roofs, it’s essential that design professionals maintain their focus on the durability and proper performance of the roof, says one industry expert.
